Improvement in vehicle-tops



L. J. FITZGERALD. VEHICLE-TOPS.

No. 194,516. l Patented Aug. 28,1877.

I Ine nto 7'? YN.PEIERS`, PHOTOAUTHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. I? 0.`

UNTED STATES LAWRENCE J. FITZGERALD,

OF CQRTLAND, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE-TOPS.

Specification forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 194,516, dated August 28, 1877 application led July 12, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, LAWRENCE J. FITZGER- ALD,of Cortland, county of Cortland and State of' New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle-Tops, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making a part hereof, in Which- Figure lis a perspective, and Fig. 2 a transverse section, representing my invention.

A is the body of a carriage. B B B B are tubular supports, which are seated in sockets C, firmly secured to the bottom of the body, and Which pass through the corner and side plates D, and are screw-threaded at their upper extremities, and attached to the top E by means of internally screw-threaded sockets F, secured to said top in any suitable manuel'.

In each of the cornerand side plates l) are set-screws G, for the'purpose of firmly retaining the supports in the seats C and plates D.

The corner-plates D are serviceable also as strengthening ithe corners of the body, and, preferably, are set into the frame-Work flush with its surface, thus presenting a neat and finished appearance.

The supports are represented as bein g curved, though I may make them straight if desired. Being of tubular construction, they are light and strong. I may also seat them in the bottom sockets by means of a screwthread, and use the set-screws in the top sockets; and l may also modify the bottom .sockets by making them integral with the corner and side plates; but I prefer the construction shown in the drawing.-

Curtains may be attached to the top by any4 of the Well-known means.

In my invention I produce a neat, serviceable, and light top, capable of being readily dismounted for purposes of transportation, and changed from a top to an open vehicle.

To dismount the top, all that is necessary is to take off the curtains (if curtains are used) and loosen the set-screws G, when, with little exertion, the supports are removed from the bottom sockets and sideand corner plates, and the top Withits supports can be set aside for future use.

If' it is desired to transport by rail or other public conveyance, then the supports are un screwed from their sockets, and` put within the body, and the top placed upon the same, thus reducing the space occupied, and materially lessening the cost of transportation.

I do not Wish to confine myself to the use oftubular supports, for it is obvious that they may be solid rods; neither to the number here shown, as -two supports might be deemed suf'-4 -cient for any light-top carriage or other vehicle.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

l. The combination of' the sockets C, cornerplates D, supports B, and the screw-threaded sockets F, as herein shown and described.

2. The combination of the sockets C, sup ports B, plates D, provided with the setscrews G, screw-threaded sockets F, and carriage-top E, substantially as and f'or the purpose set forth.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of July, 1877.

R. H. DUELL, W. J. ELsoM., 

